THE Ministry of Tourism has lifted the curtain on its big, bold ambitions for Zambia’s tourism sector, declaring that not only is the country open for business, but it is also eyeing a record-breaking 3 million international arrivals by year end.
This upbeat declaration was made on the sidelines of the 97th Zambia Agriculture and Commercial Show in Lusaka, where the ministry was proudly showcasing its range of tourism products, agencies, and partners under one colourful stand.
Tourism Minister Rodney Sikumba, visibly charged with enthusiasm, said the ministry had shifted gears in tracking real impact from the tourism boom, moving beyond basic visitor tallies and digging deeper into how each tourist contributes to job creation and economic growth.
He announced that Zambia recorded 1.2 million international visitors by mid-2025, already ahead of the 1.1 million mark for the same period last year.
This puts the country firmly on course to beat its earlier target of 2.4 million for 2025 and maybe even smash through the 3 million ceiling.
“The 2.4 million international arrivals is in the horizon,” he said.
Amidst the punishing drought of 2024, tourism stood tall as one of the only sectors to keep the Zambian economy breathing boosting the national GDP to a growth rate of 4 percent, with a 6 percent target firmly in sight.
“To be fair, when the mining sector was struggling, when agriculture was hit hard by drought, tourism came to the rescue. We are no longer just a sideshow, we are now the main event,” the minister said.
According to the ministry, tourism is no longer a luxury reserved for international jet-setters or those who sleep in five-star hotels.
Meanwhile, as for infrastructure, government is working with the ministries of transport and infrastructure to improve roads, signage, and access to national parks to make travelling across Zambia smoother and safer.
By George Musonda
Kalemba August 1, 2025
